Aqueous extracts prepared from seven plant species, Cyclamen mirabile Hildebr., 1906 (Pirumilaceae), Fritillaria bithynica Baker, 1874 (Liliaceae), Juglans regia L., 1753 (Juglandaceae), Muscari neglectum Guss., 1842 (Liliaceae), Nicotiana tabacum L., 1753 (Solaneceae), Sternbergia candida Mathew and Baytop, 1979 (Amaryllidaceae), Urginea maritima L., 1872 (Liliaceae) were tested for their inse...

The nprA gene, encoding Bacillus thuringiensis neutral protease A, was cloned by the use of gene-specific oligonucleotides. The size of neutral protease A deduced from the nprA sequence was 566 amino acids (60,982 Da). The cloned nprA gene was partially deleted in vitro, and the deleted allele, designated nprA3, was used to construct an nprA3 strain (neutral protease A-deficient strain) of B. t...

The fate and persistence of the mosquitocidal bacterium, Bacillus sphaericus, in dairy wastewater lagoons was evaluated in conjunction with trials of its larvicidal efficacy against Culex stigmatosoma. Two commercial formulations, BSP-2 (at 4.48 kg/ha) and ABG-6184 (at 2.24 kg/ha) gave about 90% reduction for up to 4 weeks, although surface water lost its insecticidal activity by 3 days posttre...

Cholesterol oxidase represents a novel type of insecticidal protein with potent activity against the cotton boll weevil (Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman). We transformed tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants with the cholesterol oxidase choM gene and expressed cytosolic and chloroplast-targeted versions of the ChoM protein. Transgenic leaf tissues expressing cholesterol oxidase exerted insectic...

A crude acetone extract and oil of ripe fruits from Melia azedarach L. were evaluated against the 2nd and 4th instar larvae of Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Both oil and extract exhibited highly significant growth inhibition at all concentrations tested, while the oil of M. azedarach recorded higher insecticidal activity against both instars than the crude extract. GC...